Advertising Telesales

Telesales operators sell goods or services over the phone. They sell home insurance, media advertising space, gas and electricity and a wide range of other products.
The work involves spending the day on the phone, calling potential customers. They may use a script to ensure they give accurate information, but also need strong customer service skills to recognise potential sales opportunities or obstacles.
Telesales operators may:
describe the product benefits and special offers
take an order and arrange for delivery of goods
enter notes into a computer, including dates for follow-up calls
read out or explain any 'small print', such as a customer's right to return a product or the standards under which the company operates.
The work can be very intensive and operators may have a set number of calls to complete within a given time.
Salaries for telesales operators range from around £11,000 to £24,000 or more a year. Commission on sales can increase basic salaries considerably.
Telesales operators work a variety of hours and shift patterns, depending on the company they work for. Part-time jobs are also widely available.
Telesales operators usually work in an office or open-plan call centre, although some work from home. They spend most of the day sitting at a screen and wear headsets.
A telesales operator needs:
excellent communication and listening skills
to be persuasive and quick to see an opportunity
to be happy working in a competitive, target-driven atmosphere
to enjoy working with customers and building relationships.
There are job opportunities for telesales operators throughout the UK. Vacancies are usually advertised on recruitment agency and company websites and in the press.
There are no set entry requirements and no age limits. An aptitude for sales and a positive, customer-friendly attitude are often more important. Employers may ask for some GCSE/S grades (A*-C/1-3) or equivalent though and ability with computers is an advantage. Apprenticeships may be offered by some of the larger contact centres.
Training is usually provided in-house. It may include an induction period, with role- playing exercises in a simulated environment, before making calls to actual customers.
There is also a range of qualifications to help telesales operators develop their skills and progress.
Successful telesales operators can earn more with higher commission and by moving into better-paid jobs. Larger organisations offer more opportunities for promotion to team leader or sales management roles. The skills involved in telephone selling can be sought after in other areas of work, such as customer service, complaints handling, buying, marketing or training